Iceland12
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We've had a number of threads comparing college football teams based on who they had drafted. The Vikings who are having a great season, are depending on a lot of undrafted players to do it.
"Almost 40 percent of the players who have been on the Vikings roster this season share a common trait: They weren't picked in the NFL draft."
The list of undrafted free agents making an impact on the Vikings this season is lengthy. Case Keenum, Adam Thielen, Marcus Sherels, Andrew Sendejo, C.J. Ham, Jeremiah Sirles, Nick Easton, Kai Forbath, Ryan Quigley and Tom Johnson were all passed over in the NFL draft.
And on the offensive line, undrafted free agent Rashod Hill has been stepping in and playing admirably at right tackle in the absence of another undrafted free agent, Mike Remmers, who has been out for four consecutive games because of a concussion and a lower-back injury.
There’s no doubt Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman and his staff spend as much time looking at undrafted players around the league as they do their No. 1 overall picks.
Of the 57 players who have been on the Vikings active roster this season, 35 were drafted and 22 were undrafted. And last year, Elias Sports Bureau noted that before opening day, there were more undrafted free agents on NFL rosters than first- or second-round picks.
That observation remains true for the Vikings this season: They have 22 undrafted players and 14 first- or second-round picks.
It just goes to show how hard it can be to predict NFL-level talent, and how important it is to invest in long-term player development.
http://www.startribune.com/vikings-relying-on-many-players-passed-over-in-nfl-draft/462683893/
"Almost 40 percent of the players who have been on the Vikings roster this season share a common trait: They weren't picked in the NFL draft."
The list of undrafted free agents making an impact on the Vikings this season is lengthy. Case Keenum, Adam Thielen, Marcus Sherels, Andrew Sendejo, C.J. Ham, Jeremiah Sirles, Nick Easton, Kai Forbath, Ryan Quigley and Tom Johnson were all passed over in the NFL draft.
And on the offensive line, undrafted free agent Rashod Hill has been stepping in and playing admirably at right tackle in the absence of another undrafted free agent, Mike Remmers, who has been out for four consecutive games because of a concussion and a lower-back injury.
There’s no doubt Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman and his staff spend as much time looking at undrafted players around the league as they do their No. 1 overall picks.
Of the 57 players who have been on the Vikings active roster this season, 35 were drafted and 22 were undrafted. And last year, Elias Sports Bureau noted that before opening day, there were more undrafted free agents on NFL rosters than first- or second-round picks.
That observation remains true for the Vikings this season: They have 22 undrafted players and 14 first- or second-round picks.
It just goes to show how hard it can be to predict NFL-level talent, and how important it is to invest in long-term player development.
http://www.startribune.com/vikings-relying-on-many-players-passed-over-in-nfl-draft/462683893/
